How I Could Just Kill a Man
Encyclopedia
"How I Could Just Kill a Man" is the debut single by hip hop
group Cypress Hill
from their eponymous debut album, Cypress Hill
, and was their first major hit in 1991. It was released as a double A-side to "The Phuncky Feel One
" and the music video featured cameos by A Tribe Called Quest
's Q-Tip
and Ice Cube
, with whom the group would later feud. It was re-released in 1999 with Spanish lyrics and a new video. It is featured as the first track on their greatest hits
compilation "Greatest Hits From the Bong
". The song was also featured on the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
, appearing on the West Coast hip hop
station Radio Los Santos. It was voted #79 in About.com
's Top 100 Rap Songs.
Towards the end of the song (approximately the last 30 seconds) someone is heard saying, "All I wanted was a Pepsi
". This quote is taken from the well-known Suicidal Tendencies
song, "Institutionalized
".
In 2001, Cypress Hill included a sequel to the song on their album Stoned Raiders
entitled "Here Is Something You Can't Understand", using the same chorus but with new verses from B-Real
, Sen Dog
and guest Kurupt
.
on their cover album, Renegades. Rage Against the Machine performed the song on their DVD, Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
, accompanied by Cypress Hill.
Singer Charlotte Sometimes
named the first single from her debut album Waves and the Both of Us
"How I Can Just Kill A Man" in honor of Cypress Hill, though the songs have no other similarities. Charlotte's version of the song quickly became a staple on both VH1 and MTV during the summer of 2008 and closed her set on the Vans Warped Tour .
A cover version was released in 1994 by German Hamburger Schule
band Cpt. Kirk &. on the album "Round About Wyatt", but with the song's title changed to "How He Could Just Kill A Man".
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
from their eponymous debut album, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill (album)
Steve Huey of Allmusic calls Cypress Hill's debut "a sonic blueprint that would become one of the most widely copied in hip-hop."In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums...
, and was their first major hit in 1991. It was released as a double A-side to "The Phuncky Feel One
The Phuncky Feel One
"The Phuncky Feel One" is the second single of rap group Cypress Hill's self-titled debut album. It was released on July 11, 1991 as a single and featured the previous single of the album, "How I Could Just Kill a Man" as a b-side. It's produced by the producer of Cypress Hill, DJ Muggs and is...
" and the music video featured cameos by A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
's Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
and Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
, with whom the group would later feud. It was re-released in 1999 with Spanish lyrics and a new video. It is featured as the first track on their greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation "Greatest Hits From the Bong
Greatest Hits From the Bong
Greatest Hits from the Bong is the greatest hits CD by the hip-hop group Cypress Hill, it was released on December 13, 2005.-Album information:...
". The song was also featured on the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
, appearing on the West Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music that originates in the westernmost region of the United States, as opposed to East Coast hip hop, based originally in New York alone...
station Radio Los Santos. It was voted #79 in About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
's Top 100 Rap Songs.
Towards the end of the song (approximately the last 30 seconds) someone is heard saying, "All I wanted was a Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
". This quote is taken from the well-known Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
song, "Institutionalized
Institutionalized (song)
"Institutionalized" is a song by the American hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years...
".
In 2001, Cypress Hill included a sequel to the song on their album Stoned Raiders
Stoned Raiders
Stoned Raiders is the sixth studio album by rap group Cypress Hill. It was recorded and released in 2001.-Album information:This album is best-known for two of its songs - Trouble and Lowrider. The song Kronologik also summarizes Cypress Hill's career from their debut in 1991 until the album was...
entitled "Here Is Something You Can't Understand", using the same chorus but with new verses from B-Real
B-Real
Louis Freese, better known by his stage name B-Real, is an American rapper of Cuban and Mexican heritage, and a film and TV actor...
, Sen Dog
Sen Dog
Sen Dog is a Cuban-American rapper, and member of rap group Cypress Hill. He is the older brother of fellow rapper Mellow Man Ace.Sen Dog has been developing his own solo career in addition to his work with Cypress Hill...
and guest Kurupt
Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown , better known by his stage name Kurupt, also known as Kurupt Tha Kingpin, Kurupt Young Gotti or Young Gotstra is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
.
Covers
The song was covered by rock band Rage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
on their cover album, Renegades. Rage Against the Machine performed the song on their DVD, Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium is the most recent album released by Rage Against the Machine on November 25, 2003. It is a recording of two shows Rage played at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in their hometown of Los Angeles on September 12 and 13, 2000...
, accompanied by Cypress Hill.
Singer Charlotte Sometimes
Charlotte Sometimes (musician)
Jessica Charlotte Poland , better known by the stage name Charlotte Sometimes, is an American singer-songwriter based out of New York and currently signed to Geffen Records. Her debut album was released on May 6, 2008 and is titled Waves and the Both of Us...
named the first single from her debut album Waves and the Both of Us
Waves and the Both of Us
Waves and the Both of Us is the debut album by Charlotte Sometimes. It was released on May 6, 2008.-Track listing:#"Losing Sleep" – 3:50#How I Could Just Kill a Man – 2:53#"Waves and the Both of Us" – 3:36#"Sweet Valium High" – 2:40...
"How I Can Just Kill A Man" in honor of Cypress Hill, though the songs have no other similarities. Charlotte's version of the song quickly became a staple on both VH1 and MTV during the summer of 2008 and closed her set on the Vans Warped Tour .
A cover version was released in 1994 by German Hamburger Schule
Hamburger Schule
The Hamburger Schule is a musical current in Germany during the 1980s and early 1990s. With some active bands and artists it is still present. It is encompassing elements from punk, grunge and experimental pop, and featuring intelligent lyrics...
band Cpt. Kirk &. on the album "Round About Wyatt", but with the song's title changed to "How He Could Just Kill A Man".